By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 25, 2026
Agartala, July 25 (FD) The Tripura Government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the mysterious and unnatural death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar, intensifying efforts to uncover the circumstances surrounding the demise of one of the country's most distinguished IPS officers.
According to an official order issued on Friday, the investigation will be headed by West Tripura Superintendent of Police (SP) Namit Pathak. The team also includes Additional SP (Urban) Dhruba Nath and Sub-Inspector Subhojit Deb, who has been serving as the investigating officer since the case was registered. The order authorises the investigating SP to induct additional officers from the Tripura Police Crime Branch or any other police unit if required and seek technical assistance from the Cyber Crime Unit for forensic and digital investigations.
The investigation team has been instructed to submit weekly progress reports to Inspector General (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper for onward review by the Director General of Police (in-charge), ensuring close monitoring of the high-profile probe.
Dhankar, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, was found dead in the washroom attached to his chamber at the State Police Headquarters in Agartala on July 20. His death has triggered widespread speculation and demands for an impartial investigation.
A highly respected police officer, Dhankar had earned national recognition during his tenure with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), where he led the probe into the alleged ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and supervised the reinvestigation of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
State Home Secretary Abhishek Singh confirmed that the police have received Dhankar's post-mortem report but declined to disclose its findings. "The police have received the post-mortem report of the DGP. Investigation into the unnatural death is progressing as per law," Singh told reporters.
Investigators have already seized Dhankar's official uniform, service vehicle and electronic devices for forensic examination as part of the ongoing probe.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha urged political parties to refrain from politicising the incident, asserting that the government is committed to ensuring a fair and transparent investigation.
"The investigation into the unnatural death of Dhankar will be conducted strictly as per law. A high-level team has already been constituted to investigate the case. It will not be wise to politicise the issue," Saha said while speaking to reporters.
The Chief Minister's appeal came amid renewed demands from the opposition CPI(M) for a judicial inquiry under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar reiterated that only an independent judicial probe could remove doubts surrounding the death of the state's top police officer.
"I knew Anurag Dhankar well. He served Tripura with dedication and professionalism in different capacities. It is difficult to believe that such an experienced officer was found hanging inside the police headquarters. The government must ensure that every question surrounding this unfortunate incident is answered through an impartial investigation," Sarkar said.
Dhankar's last rites were performed with full state honours at his native town of Baraut in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district on July 22, where senior police officers, family members and well-wishers paid their final respects.
With forensic examinations underway and the newly constituted investigation team beginning its work, the focus now shifts to establishing the facts behind one of the most sensitive and closely watched cases in Tripura's recent history. FD SB